Apparatus for air purification



Jan. 1, 1935. JIA' sMn-H 1,986,378

APPARATUS FOR AIR PURIFICATION Filed June 8, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l I 1 l I l I J- L INVENTOR W ATTO RN EYS Jan. 1, 1935. ,J. sMlTH APPARATUS FOR AIR PURIFICATION File d June 8, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 t {We ATTORNEYS Jan. 1, 1935. J. A. SMITH APPARATUS FOR AIR PURIFICATION Filed June 8, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 E I l {47 ll INVENTOR BY- yvfl ATTO RN EYS Patented Jan. 1, 1935 TPATE'NL jid Fi E r nPPAnATus on Amj eammate John-A. Smith, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The United States Electrical Tool Company, cinnati,.0hio, a corporation of ,Ohio

Application Julie 8, 11931, Serial m 542,746" 'TClaim sa (Cl.18314) 'IJ'his invention relates toan apparatus orsys-f tem for collecting dust andotherabrasive particles from the air and for otherwise purifyingthe air in'an operating room, which method and ap paratus are particularly applicable, to machines such as grinders, finishing, or burnishing machinery, in which machines,abrading or grind+ ing wheels are used, these wheels tending to throw off and fill thesurrounding air with metal dust, grit and abrasive substance of ,all sorts, naturally detrimental to the health and comfort oftheworkmen. It is the objectof this invention to, provide a means or system for'dra wing off the particle laden air immediately abouttheygrinding devices through the medium of anapparatus: efiiciently and completely drawing in,.through ampleair supply'inlets, all the particles-leaving the parts being ground and the grinding wheels and passing this particle ladenair' through a water spray for washing the air and thereafter passing theair under pressure through various filters and ulti mately'returning it to the operating or working room. i e i ,1,

By the use of the equipment herein provided, all the grit and dust is carried off and collected through improved intake devices thereby pre-;

. .ating the same, but all those within the 'entire the operating room. M a I Other objects and certain advantageswill be more fully apparent in a description of the faccompanying drawings, in whichz f Figure l is a rear viewof thesystemapplied to a grinding. machine, a. portion thereof being broken away for illustrating the interior of the filter and air purification unit. g l

' Figure 2 is a sectionalview taken on line 2--2, "gurel, further detailing theair washing device and filter of the system. i Figure 3 is a sideview of the system as'applied to'a grinding machine. l r. Figure 4" is a front view. of'one of thetintake :hoodsdisposed aboutia grinding wheel.

. ,wardly extended intake opening,-

Figure 5 is asectional .viewof the joint used for sealingtheponnectionbetween the hood and hopper sectionsof theintakes. l l r It ispreferable that the'body, or supporting frame of the machine, to which the system is applied, be hollow for housing the filtering and purifying unit ,of the system although it will be understood that the system ;only. loses the feature of compactness, relative to the .,-machine, if this is not possible. Likewise it .is preferable that the apparatus ofthe system-deriveits power from the; generalpower means for the machine.

In the.;present embodiment and environment the system is shown in its preferred form and arrangementand is-inorporated as a part of a of bearingslz for the grinding wheelspindle 13 which carries a grinding;wheel,9 at each end beyond each of the respective bearings, A motor 14 is mounted on a base15 secured tothe upper surface of .theframe 1Q towardthe rear and centrally thereof. The motor pulley 16 is connected to a pulley 1'7 on the spindle by means: of a belt 18, the spindle being beyond and parallel to the front of the'machine for disposing the grinding wheelsclear of the machine. I

In the present; invention, hoods and suction means of improved construction are incorporated inqa general purification system for the purposes mentioned heretofore. -Each grinding wheel is housed as far as is feasible keeping in mind accessibility to thewheels for efficient work. The improved intake means 19, 19 of this system, hav-- ing suction connections 20, depend well below the wheels and the intake area is increased well above that obtainable immediately about the wheels by providing that the entire fronts of the intake means are open; These intake, means each include a hood, section about the grinding wheel and a hopper section below the grinding wheel.' ,-It is-recognized that although most of the flying metal dust and abrasive is thrown-by centrifugal force into the hood'section at the region of each wheel, a-portion of it drops or fills theair beneath the wheel. By the present arrangement'this is also drawn into the intake openingof the hopper section in each caseas it falls before the down- "Each intake .means, as stated, is :ectional including ahinged uppfir sectionor; hood 2i which can be thrown back from the wheel and a lower supporting section or hopper 22. This lower section or hopper includes a plurality of bafile plates 23 set obliquely at angles varying from the vertical toward horizontal. The inclined arrangement of the baflies is such that they extend toward the suction connection or outlet of the hopper from vertically spaced-points. along-the intake p ni ben a lithe rindingyvh el-th re r tune,- tioning to block the path of particles thrown by centrifugal action off the back of the grinding wheels and diverting all the particles toward the suction connection. It will be observedthat the suction intake opening has considerable area, this being possible below thewheels because of, the bafiies preventing forcible ejection of particles, from the periphery of the wheel through the opening, the deflecting baffles aiding the suction means as it pulls the flyingabrasive from, the;

region of the wheel. Each supporting sectionorhopper is attached to the frame oftliemachine by means :of bracket bars or formed angle iron strips; 24 and 25,'se- 'cure'dto the back of the hopper section; and'the underside of the hopper section respectively. The upper end of the lower section "is reinforced or bound by means'of an angle-iron strip 26- at each side and a- U-shapedstrap iron piece I '27 sunrounding the side and rearofthe section. The sides or arms 'of the u-shap'ed p'iece are attached to the angle iron pieces-and extend well to the rear of the hopper structure dispos-ing the cross bar 28 thereof for supporting the hoodwhen it is thrown-"back on its hinged rear edge. The lower side edges of the upper sectionin clude looking or" sealing connection strips 29. These strips are' attached t'o'the' inner side of the upper section. They are-formed to provide two downwardly disposed channels, the inner 30 (see Figure 5) engagingover the upper-edge of the lower section when the hood is inposition and the outer 31' having scuredtherein a felt strip 32 depending therefrom"ahdengaging the particular side of *the 'lower section for sealing-the joint at these points; 'the'hinge sealing'the see tions at 'the back; "The upper sectionor hood is semicircularand encloses slightly more than half the wheel, the sides thereof being notched as at 33=to clear the spindle and the grinding wheel hubs i l f t The suction is created by'means of a blower fan (not shown) includedin'a fan casing 34 supported about the motor shaft at the opposite side to the driving pulley thereof; The suction duets 20 to the respectivehoppers are joined at the side of the machine at which the suction means is disposed and are connected to the side of the suction casing by--means ofaduct 35-of increased size equivalent cross sectional area-to that of the two suctionducts. l I These suction'ductsmay' be conne'cted to the hoppers by any'sui-table sleeve connectionand clamping means 36and the one extending'in back 'of the machine is supported on the machine by means of brackets 3'7 bolted to sleeves 38 which connect the respective-sections of the duct. The duct construction consisting of elbows and straight sections suitably joined is-of "conventional character and' no further description there- From the-point ofthebl'ower the particle laden airis'forced under pressure through a duct 39: extending upwardly from the suction casing and thence jdowiiwardly in front of the motor into the hollow-frame ofthe-machine; The-water spray for washing the air is included within the aforesaid pipe in the downwardly extended section thereof.

The water is supplied from a tank 40 contained within the hollow frame and is pumped through a spray supply pipe 41 by means of a pump 42 bolted to the side of the frame and driven by means, of a belt43: connecting the pump pull y 44. to a pulley 45. on the spindle between one of the grinding wheels and the adjacent spindle bearing. The Water pump includes an intake pipe connection 46 entering the water tank below the normal level of the water. The spray supply pipe 4 1 extends from the pump upwardly andincludes a Valve. 47 for controlling the flow theret-hrough. This pipe extends out over the frame of the machine and into the side of the duct '39, leading from the blower, by means of appropriate elbows and is extended upwardly centrally of the duct to a point just below a conical baffle 48 having its concave surface disposed downwardly and secured centrally of the pipe by meansof radial attaching brackets 49.

The water is forced-underpressure into the cone ofthe bafiie and is diverted by means of the conical'wall in the form of a conical spray, there by entirely filling the duct fromthe point; of the baffle to the lower' end of the pipe, which lower end is disposed slightly above the normal level of the water. Therefore, the particle laden air forced under pressure past the spray cone passes through the continuous spray of water from the point oftheibafile substantially to the level of the waterin' the tank. The duct 39 extends-into the tank through the upper surface thereof and 1s'seeured' thereto bymeans of circular'flange elements, upper '50 and lower 51, clamped to the sheet metal top of the tank. V

A filtering screen box or enclosure"52' entirely surrounds the lower end of the pipe and is supported so as to. be partly immersed in the liquid pool. This enclosure-is constructed of angleiron providinga general metal framework 53-and screen sides 54, bottom 55 and top 56, and is removably supported on angle ironrails- 52 mounted between and attached to-the respective side walls of the water tank. Therefore, the

washed air coming out of the bottom of the pipe must pass through the filter screen box into the region of the tank above the water level. It is appreciated that the air dischargedfrom the pipe 39 into the tank'is considerably filled with moisture and it would not be feasible, therefore,

to'diseharge the drenched air immediatelylnto the work room from'the tank. For this reason the outlet from the tank includes a screen 57, which screen is designed to collect the major portion of the moisture from the air passing through. It is secured in position so as to be readily opened for access to the interior of the tankand is, inclined. over the pool of water in the tank so that the collected water may drip into the pool.

A, plate 58. is hingedto the rear edge 59. of thetank top. and depends therefrom. The screen, which includesa. metal binding 60, is hinged to the upper edge 61 of the rear wall o'fthe' tank which; edge isv considerably below the irearedge of; the top of the tank. The outlet screen 57 has, its upper inward edge 62 supported on an angle strip. 63;securedl to the,-depending-m ta1; Plate and is attachable thereto. bymeansfof winged nuts. 64..which-:" are conveniently detachable; to permit swing-ing- -of'tl-iescreen rearward-1y and the plate 58 inwardly forentrance into the water tank.

The back of the machine frame is closed by means of a removable plate 65 having an off-set portion 66 fitting in back of a permanently attached bottom closure plate 67 and adapted to lie against the side edges and upper edge of the frame and secured in this position by pivoted latches 68 engaging in notches 69 of component latch plates 70 secured at right angles thereto and upon the sides of the frame. This removable rear plate 65 is vented for an outlet into the room including for this purpose a series of inclined walls 71 directing the discharge toward the floor of the room, the openings or spaces between the walls providing sufiicient aggregate discharge area and being located directly adjacent the screened discharge opening from the tank.

Therefore, it will be observed thatthe abrasive and particle laden air is drawn off the grinding wheels into the blower and then forced through the spray pipe where it is washed by the water spray, thence passing into the filter screen box within the tank. Thereafter it is discharged through to the upper region of the water tank via the screen sides of the box and from the water tank is discharged through the water collecting screen in the tank outlet and from the where they are submerged in water and therefore prevented from being blown or returned into the room, the action of the water spray being to dampen the particles and to positively deposit them in the water pool and the effect of the screen enclosure being to collect any further particles in the air and to prevent undue splashing in the tank. The screened discharge opening for the water tank collects the water from washed air and the baflled discharge deflects the purified air to the floor of the factory room.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An air purifying apparatus comprising, hoods adapted to be disposed at the source of emanation of abrasive dust, a blower, intake ducts connecting the blower to said hoods, a discharge duct for said blower for discharging the purified air from the apparatus, a water spray means in said discharge duct, and a filter surrounding the discharge end of said duct.

2. An air purifying apparatus, comprising, hoods for receiving abrasive dust, a blower, intake ducts connecting said blower to said hoods, a discharge duct for the blower discharging the purified air from the apparatus, a water spray device located in said duct, a filter screen enclosure surrounding the lower end of said duct, a tank surrounding said screen enclosure for receiving the water from the spray, and a screened discharge opening for said tank.

3. An air purifying apparatus, comprising, hoods adapted to be disposed about dust creating machinery, means for drawing the dust into said hoods including a blower, an intake duct and a discharge duct, said discharge duct discharging the air from the apparatus, a spray device located in the discharge duct for washing the air, a supply tank for said spray located within the machine frame, and a filter screen device in said tank, said discharge duct extending into the tank and having its end surrounded by said filter screen device.

4. In an air purifying system adapted to be used on machines creating dust, hoods adapted to be disposed about the machine parts creating dust, a blower adapted to be mounted on top of the machine, an intake duct connecting said blower to said hoods, a discharge duct adapted to extend into the machine, a water spray device located in said discharge duct, a filter screen enclosure surrounding the lower end of said discharge duct, a tank surrounding said screen enclosure for receiving the water from the spray, said discharge duct adapted to be disposed slightly above the water level, and a discharge opening for said tank.

5. An air cleansing apparatus adapted for use on a grinding machine, having a hollow base, intake hoods adapted to be disposed about the grinding wheels, a blower connected to the hoods and adapted to be mounted on the hollow base, a discharge pipe adapted toextend from the blower down into the hollow base of the machine,

device, said discharge pipe extending into the tank adjacent the surface of the water contained in the tank, a screen enclosure surrounding the lower 'end of the pipe and partly submerged in the water, and a screened outlet for the water tank for permitting discharge of the cleansed air therefrom.

6. In an air cleansing system adapted for use on a machine having working parts causing dust and flying abrasive and including a hollow base, an air filtering andjwashing unit adapted to be contained within said hollow base, a blower means including intake hoods adapted to surround the machine parts causing the dust, said blower connected for discharging into the air filtering and washing unit, and outlet means adapted to be contained in the hollow base for discharge of the purified air back into the room.

'7. An apparatus for entraining at the source an emanation of finely divided matter held in air suspension and for delivering a current of purified air; comprising, an intake hood, a blower having its suction conduit connected to the hood, a spraying means located in the discharge conduit of the blower adapted to create a water vapor, a water tank located beneath the end of the discharge conduit, and a filter screen and a defiector disposed about the end of the discharge conduit whereby the finely divided matter is dampened and deposited in the pool of water and the washed air is blown across the surface of the water and delivered to the room through the filter and the deflector.

JOHN A. SMITH. 

